College of Optometrists

UK Eye Care Services Survey - Literature Review

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Published: 1 Mar 2012

Summary

The joint paper 'Primary Care and Community Services: Improving eye health services', produced by the UK Vision Strategy, Department of Health and World Class Commissioning, dedicates an entire section to mapping baseline services, and therefore suggests the importance of mapping 'baselines' in order to make improvements to eye health services (DoH, 2009: 26-34). Mapping exercises can be supported by academic research, audits of optometric practices and mapping patient journeys. This report is directly tied to this, with the overall project aim being to map UK eye care services. The aim of this report is to present the current literature relating to optometrists within UK Eye Care Services in a variety of capacities. By mapping services, any organisations outside of the College, including PCTs, can be supported in identifying service gaps, as well as understand the ways in which current services operate to facilitate the development of new schemes. The schemes described in this report will also provide exemplars for other regions not currently involved in enhanced eye care services.